Billy Bob's Unorthodox Guide to Parenting

July 22, 2005 — -- It must be every 11-year-old brat's dream to have Billy Bob Thornton as a dad. But Mr. "Bad Santa" only lets children use naughty words when the director yells, "Action."

"They love it," says Thornton, speaking of the sweet kids cast to play the bratty Little Leaguers in the remake of the "Bad News Bears."

"They get an opportunity to curse in a movie," Thornton says. "That's like magic to them."

Not that the 49-year-old approves of potty-mouthed kids, he's got five of his own (not to mention four ex-wives), and he teaches his children to mind their manners. But Thornton has never been accused of being politically correct. Witness his much-heralded 2003 portrayal of a drunken, depraved Father Christmas.

Now, in "Bad News Bears," opening today, he's back, taking on the role Walter Matthau originated as -- you guessed it -- a drunken, depraved little league coach.

Truth is, however, moviegoers have no problem accepting Angelina Jolie's heavily tattooed ex-husband as someone who can foster a youngster's ardent spirit. Witness Thornton's acclaimed performance as a hard-driving high school football coach in last year's "Friday Night Lights."

Thornton is once again acting with kids, and this time they're even younger, putting the notorious Hollywood bad boy in the awkward position of role model. And after casting a cussing, boisterous batch of preteens to wreak havoc on a baseball diamond, it's not so easy to get them to sit still.

"I loved working with these kids. They're really a good bunch … And let's just say they're all very powerful personalities.

"You got to mess with the kids a little bit to keep 'em on their toes," says Thornton.

"They would try to tell me some nasty little thing, and I'd say, 'No you can't do it'," he said. "I acted kind of like a father to them in a way. I wouldn't let them curse when we weren't shooting."

It's going to be interesting to see if the box office brings good news to these Bears. The 1976 original became a subversive hit, showing just how crude sweet-faced kids can be, and just how immature their parents get when little extensions of their ego step up to bat.